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Was I duped?
- Thread starter gopes
- Start date
Hectic
Executive Member
I bought a SSS Langley Turbo many years ago this way.
I got the car mid December 1984.
The dealer bought temporally licence plates and I drove it that way.
I took it back in January and it was registered as a 1985 model.
Not sure if this can still be done.
Last edited:
Fazda
Honorary Master
OK - we sell Jeep and this is probably what has happened:
Each month the dealer has to report his sales. If you are one or two units short of reaching target and missing a substantial kickback, you will report definite deals, even if the car is not delivered that month. If that "definite" deal collapses for some reason or other, the car may be turned into a demo, say the following month.
On the CJD system - the car's warranty kicks in the moment the car is reported, so if this car was reported in November and licensed in January, the warranty would have kicked in in November, but technically speaking, it can be sold as a 2013 model because that is when it was first registered.
When it comes to trade in, we look at date of first registration to get the correct "year" and then when it is sold as a used car we check when it was reported, and the customer is informed that he has X number of months of Warranty/Maintenance left.
In your case, you should have been informed that the Warranty/maintenance would be 2 months less than the registered age of the car. It's not a train smash, as long as you know about it.
As for the variation in odo reading - that is where you have the problem, and the dealership must explain.
Each month the dealer has to report his sales. If you are one or two units short of reaching target and missing a substantial kickback, you will report definite deals, even if the car is not delivered that month. If that "definite" deal collapses for some reason or other, the car may be turned into a demo, say the following month.
On the CJD system - the car's warranty kicks in the moment the car is reported, so if this car was reported in November and licensed in January, the warranty would have kicked in in November, but technically speaking, it can be sold as a 2013 model because that is when it was first registered.
When it comes to trade in, we look at date of first registration to get the correct "year" and then when it is sold as a used car we check when it was reported, and the customer is informed that he has X number of months of Warranty/Maintenance left.
In your case, you should have been informed that the Warranty/maintenance would be 2 months less than the registered age of the car. It's not a train smash, as long as you know about it.
As for the variation in odo reading - that is where you have the problem, and the dealership must explain.
Hi, We had the same exact issue on a Hyundai Tucson a few years back. I tried speaking to the dealer principal many times but was give the run around. It took us months to get it sorted, they eventually had to get Hyundai head office in korea or wherever to change the maintenance plan on the system but you will have to have extreme patience with ombudsman and this route. It is a huge schlep. Beware of dealer "demo" models. This is common practice, the dealer was a shifty little **** who knew about the deal from the beginning and acted for weeks like he knew nothing about it and that he is investigating. I think we were lucky that somebody was willing to help otherwise we would have given up. Don't listen to there promises about they will still cover for those months. It has to be changed on their system otherwise when the time comes it will not be covered and the person who made the promises will be long gone. Not many people pick it up because they dont look at the details on the invoice but this is common practice.
Thanks for your explanation re year model - I can accept that - but is this something they should have told me beforehand?
Secondly with regards to the mileage discrepancy- could it just be an error in the way the mileage was recorded?
Is that a likely scenario?
Thanks
Regards
Fazda
Honorary Master
They should have explained that, I agree, however, when buying a demo, people are effectively buying a "used" car, and two months doesn't really concern the salesman, simply the year of the car. In fact it is highly likely that the salesman had no idea that the car was pre-reported, as that is an admin thing that would not have been discussed with the sales staff, unless it was being sold as a brand new car at the time.
I was also going to suggest finger trouble in recording that funny mileage - it is quite possible, as I have seen some amazing mistakes come from our particular admin lady - I now have to double check every thing that she does!
Sonic2k
Executive Member
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The motor industry in SA is even dirtier than many of you can imagine.
Odometer tampering is rife. It slowed a bit when the all-digital stuff came on board, but soon there were hacking tools online that could be had for a measly R2500, so they're at it again.
Odometer tampering is rife. It slowed a bit when the all-digital stuff came on board, but soon there were hacking tools online that could be had for a measly R2500, so they're at it again.
quovadis
Honorary Master
To answer... First registration = Model - Thus you purchased a 2013 Model - It was disclosed that the vehicle was a demo and thus prior usage is disclosed. Yes it is confusing but it is how the industry operates unfortunately.
The odometer error or discrepancy should be investigated - A simple letter to the dealership requesting clarity on the matter should suffice.
Fazda
Honorary Master
This is a little dramatic, to put it mildly!
Yes, clocks are tampered with, but that would be done by a sleazy side road guy and not a main dealership. They would have their dealership taken away with them and have a hefty fine if they were caught - it's just not worth it.
In this case, if a demo has done 10 000 km or 3800 km is a drop in the ocean, in the bigger scheme of things.
My current demo has just had its 15 000 first service, and nobody is freaking about it. When it gets sold it will have whatever mileage I have put on it at the time.
I've just called Chrysler SA now and they've confirmed the car to be a 2012 model on their system.
I understand that there is very little difference between 10 000 and 4000kms in terms of the cars lifespan
But the mileage recorded in April 2013 when sold to me is LESS than the mileage recorded in March 2013.
Also if I try to sell the car, a prospective buyer may be put off by this discrepancy.
I understand that there is very little difference between 10 000 and 4000kms in terms of the cars lifespan
But the mileage recorded in April 2013 when sold to me is LESS than the mileage recorded in March 2013.
Also if I try to sell the car, a prospective buyer may be put off by this discrepancy.
Fazda
Honorary Master
No, the mileage thing MUST be sorted out.
Yes, Chrysler will have it as a 2012 on their system as that is when the warranty kicked in, however, when it comes to trading the car in down the road, they will ask for year of first registration and nothing else - in that case it's a 2013.
Sonic2k
Executive Member
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Take it whichever way you want. I know the industry well, my father as well as several friends of our family worked their entire lives in the industry as mechanics. I know all the tricks
Fazda
Honorary Master
It looks as if you didn't bother to read beyond my first sentence.
This is not some like back yard/ side street operation we are dealing with - we are looking at a dealership facing a massive fine and having its franchise taken away from it at the same time. It is highly unlikely that it has had a haircut!